In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! Ban.: What, can the devil speak true? Macb.: The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me In borrow'd robes ? Ang.: Who was the thane lives yet; But under heavy judgement bears that life 110 Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined 115 Macb. (Aside): Glamis, and thane of Cawdor! The greatest is behind. (To Ross and ANGUS.) Thanks for your pains. (To BAN.) Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them? That trusted home Ban.: Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange 106. addition, i.e., to thy titles. Any extra title is called an addition. A 107. devil. One syllable. reference to the fulfilment of the witches' prediction. 109. Who was, he who was. 110. under heavy judgement, the penalty of death. See I. ii. 64. Notice the spelling of judgement. 112. did line, did assist or strengthen. 113. vantage, advantage. 113. that. This use of "that" instead of "whether" is similar to the French idiom. 120 125 117. The greatest is behind, the greatest honour (of becoming king) is to follow. The gradual working up of Macbeth's purpose to fulfilment shows the highest dramatic skill. Notice again the suspicion of Banquo awaking in the next line. 119. thane, the title of thane. Cawdor has again its second syllable hypermetric, as in l. 72. 120. trusted home, allowed to settle or harbour in the mind, trusted to the full extent. 121. enkindle you to, inflame you to desire. 125. Win us with honest trifles. Cf. V. viii. 20. 125. betray 's, betray us. 126. In deepest consequence, into most heavy punishment. Cousins, a word, I pray you. Macb. (Aside): Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.-I thank you, gentlemen. (Aside) This supernatural soliciting 130 Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair 135 And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, But what is not. Ban.: Look, how our partner's rapt. 140 Macb. (Aside): If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir. 127. Cousins. Spoken to Angus and Ross. A usual greeting amongst nobles. 128. As happy prologues. It was the custom of the times to open a play with a prologue, spoken by one of the principal actors, and intended to awaken interest in the play to follow. The two lesser prophecies have come true, showing happy omens for the greater and imperial power, foreshadowed in the witches' third prediction. 128. swelling act, the glorious promise of increase to kingly power. 130. soliciting, prompting, urging on. 132. earnest, foretaste. Cf. 7. 101. 133. I am, one syllable. 134. suggestion, prompting. 135. horrid image, the visions of a horrible murder-the murder of Duncan. 135. unfix my hair, make my hair stand on end. Cf. V. v. 12. 136. seated, usually calm or settled. 137. Against the use, contrary to the ordinary course. 139. fantastical, imaginary, in the mind only. The mere thought of murder. 140. single state of man, my manhood's powers, my kingdom over my own thoughts. Each man is a king over a single kingdom-himself. 140, 141. function Is smothered in surmise, power to act is taken from me by the thought (of murder). 141, 142. nothing is, But what is not, nothing is real but what is unreal, i.e., my thoughts seem the more real as my power to act becomes destroyed. 142. rapt, i.e., in meditation. 144. Without my stir, without any action of my own. Macbeth's better nature appears for the moment. |